1. Title, director and release year?
Six Degrees Could Change the World
Ron Bowman
2007
2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
This movie focuses on global warming and what would happen if the Earth’s temperature raised only six degrees. This is if the trends continue of pollution and human impact that is happening at an alarming rate. This movie goes into great detail about what is going on, what will happen, and what we can do to stop this from happening.
3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
This movie goes into detail about global warming and how human life and the environment are going to be affected. It goes into globalization, consumerism and the human impact on the Earth and how what we are doing and what we have done is heating up the globe, this is melting the ice caps, changing weather patterns and affecting the world in many different ways.
4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
- It was very interesting to see the incredible effects that have been going on when we have only increased only 1.5 degrees in the past century. There is a trend in global warming and it’s not going to stop anytime soon, this means that we are slowly getting closer and closer to extreme weather and world changes
- Only 6 degrees separates today’s world/environment from being set back into the ice age. We only know how the world is now, but if we continue what we are doing and increase global warming, only a few degrees would change everything we know as the Earth o Weather patterns would change, and they already are. There are less hurricanes but the hurricanes that do occur are much stronger than what they used to be because the water temperature of the oceans are warmer o There would be more famine because of drying crops and water shortage in certain areas o While there are water shortages in some areas, there’s going to be floods in other areas and it’s expected that some coastline communities will just disappear § The maps of the coastlines just disappearing and countries basically shrinking into the ocean really show what could happen, especially because where I’m from would be under water. o The timeline for this is in years or decades, which is in our lifetimes and is a seriously tangible event that could happen § What does this mean for a much longer time period?
- In Paris the trees are actually emitting CO2 into the environment instead of converting it into O2. This proves that we have done so much damage to the environment and we really need to stop what we are doing and change our habits.
5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
It was confusing when they were talking about the agricultural increase in the United Kingdom. They talked about so much destruction and crisis around the world, and somehow there is an increase in productivity in England? It just didn’t seem to make sense and I didn’t understand how it fit into the serious tone of problems with global warming.
6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
- I would like to know more information about how some areas are going to be in serious water shortages yet others will be flooding. What would happen in this situation when all of the water will most likely be privatized by that point? Since it would be owned by private companies would we be able to divert it to these areas?
7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
This film best addresses the general public and people that don’t necessarily believe in global warming or are completely convinced by it. It shows the devastating effects of global warming and what is happening and what is going to happen if we continue our attitudes and our way of life. There are very good images in this movie that really get the point across of what is going on in the world and what could really happen.
8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
This film really stresses that we need to change our habits and the way that we view our resources. It promotes alternative energy as well as sustainable activities. The movie really focuses on trying to avoid increasing the temperature of the globe, meaning the air, water and land.
9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
The film uses many images to show what is happening and what could happen, but I think more maps/diagrams and figures could have made the problem more tangible. I understand that it is a lot of speculation as far as what exactly going to happen in the world, and they can’t get all of the consequences down to the exact measurement, it would have helped to have seen and heard more of those things.
Six Degrees Could Change the World
Ron Bowman
2007
2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
This movie focuses on global warming and what would happen if the Earth’s temperature raised only six degrees. This is if the trends continue of pollution and human impact that is happening at an alarming rate. This movie goes into great detail about what is going on, what will happen, and what we can do to stop this from happening.
3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
This movie goes into detail about global warming and how human life and the environment are going to be affected. It goes into globalization, consumerism and the human impact on the Earth and how what we are doing and what we have done is heating up the globe, this is melting the ice caps, changing weather patterns and affecting the world in many different ways.
4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
- It was very interesting to see the incredible effects that have been going on when we have only increased only 1.5 degrees in the past century. There is a trend in global warming and it’s not going to stop anytime soon, this means that we are slowly getting closer and closer to extreme weather and world changes
- Only 6 degrees separates today’s world/environment from being set back into the ice age. We only know how the world is now, but if we continue what we are doing and increase global warming, only a few degrees would change everything we know as the Earth
o Weather patterns would change, and they already are. There are less hurricanes but the hurricanes that do occur are much stronger than what they used to be because the water temperature of the oceans are warmer
o There would be more famine because of drying crops and water shortage in certain areas
o While there are water shortages in some areas, there’s going to be floods in other areas and it’s expected that some coastline communities will just disappear
§ The maps of the coastlines just disappearing and countries basically shrinking into the ocean really show what could happen, especially because where I’m from would be under water.
o The timeline for this is in years or decades, which is in our lifetimes and is a seriously tangible event that could happen
§ What does this mean for a much longer time period?
- In Paris the trees are actually emitting CO2 into the environment instead of converting it into O2. This proves that we have done so much damage to the environment and we really need to stop what we are doing and change our habits.
5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
It was confusing when they were talking about the agricultural increase in the United Kingdom. They talked about so much destruction and crisis around the world, and somehow there is an increase in productivity in England? It just didn’t seem to make sense and I didn’t understand how it fit into the serious tone of problems with global warming.
6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
- I would like to know more information about how some areas are going to be in serious water shortages yet others will be flooding. What would happen in this situation when all of the water will most likely be privatized by that point? Since it would be owned by private companies would we be able to divert it to these areas?
7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
This film best addresses the general public and people that don’t necessarily believe in global warming or are completely convinced by it. It shows the devastating effects of global warming and what is happening and what is going to happen if we continue our attitudes and our way of life. There are very good images in this movie that really get the point across of what is going on in the world and what could really happen.
8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
This film really stresses that we need to change our habits and the way that we view our resources. It promotes alternative energy as well as sustainable activities. The movie really focuses on trying to avoid increasing the temperature of the globe, meaning the air, water and land.
9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
The film uses many images to show what is happening and what could happen, but I think more maps/diagrams and figures could have made the problem more tangible. I understand that it is a lot of speculation as far as what exactly going to happen in the world, and they can’t get all of the consequences down to the exact measurement, it would have helped to have seen and heard more of those things.